Portable shelter or tent for attachment to automobiles



April 1931- 'c. E. CROOKE PORTABLE SHELTER OR TENT FOR ATTACHMENT TO AUTOMOBILES Filed May 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 28, 1931. c CROQKE 1,803,237

PORTABLE SHELTER OR TENT FOR ATTACHMENT TO AUTOMOBILES Filed May 14, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 2 April 28, 1931. c E CRQOKE 1,803,237

PORTABLE SHELTER OR TENT FOR ATTACHMENT TO AUTOMOBILES Filed May 1 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 28, 1931 Fries CYRIL EDNOT'T CROOKE, 0F TARNPIRR, ST. FILLAN, AUSTRALIA PORTABLE SHELTER OR TENT ATTACHMENT'TO AUTOMOBILES Application filed May 14, 1930, Serial No. 452,360, and in AustraliaMarch 27, 1930.

Thisinvention relates to'shelters or tents and more particularly to shelters especially adapted for attachment to automobiles.

One of the objects of the invention is to 5 provide an improved shelter or tent for attachment to an automobile, the shelter, with the necessary frame or support, being simple and inexpensive in construction, and capable of being erected single handed in a minimum of time to thereby provide an efiective shelter for. picnic and camping out purposes, or toprovide an adequately private undressing and dressing enclosure for bathers. The shelter with its frame is capable of being readily collapsed and packed in a relatively small space for transport or storage.

Another object is to provide a shelter or tent which is directly attachable to an automobile in such a manner that the vehicle with the shelter operatively applied thereto may travel under its own power, withinrea'sonable limits, thus enabling the combined struc ture to be moved about a camping site in available sunshine or shade, or to enable the combined structure to be shlfted lnto the most desirable vacant position of the camping site.

Still another object of the inventionis'to' provide an improved shelter which utilizes the open doors offan automobile as a support or partial support, and in which one, at least, of the frame members of the shelter is adapted for attachment to the door of the vehicle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a shelter for attachment to an automobile, the shelter involving a simple and easily erected frame or support which is devoid of tent poles, guy ropes .and other such supporting elements necessary with 1 most tents or shelters, and which are usually inconvenient to erect or install and when erected are liable to obstructthe movement of persons in or around the tent and are generally a source of inconvenience.

A device in accordance with the preferred form of this invention includes a suitable frame comprising a number of rods or bars, and a covering of canvas, fabric or any other 0 suitable material. Two of the rods are adaptquiclrly and easily dismounted and may be J order that full. advantage may be taken of ed at their inner ends for attachment to the vehicle, one at least to an open door of the vehicle, and project outwardly therefrom in cantilever fashion. A. third rod or cross bar is adapted to extend between the outer ends of the cantilever rods. These three members, with the open door or doors,may constitute the entire framework for thetent which in any case is devoid of tent poles, guy ropes and the like. -The tent canvas or fabric is preferably placed over thecantilever rods before applying the cross bar to thecantilever rods. The subsequent application of the cross bar causes the canvas shelter to assume its erected shape or condition and also imparts stability to the entire structure. Suitable retainers or snap fasteners may be then manipulated, as will be described hereinafter, fabric in proper, position.

Referring to the drawings which form to retain the tent part of this specificationi Figure 1 is aside View showing a shelter according to the invention applied to a limousine .orsedan type of automobile.

Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1 omitting the canvas or like shelter but showing the framework therefor in operative position. Figure 3 is an end view of the same embodiment showing the canvas or like shelter in position at one side, and a framework erected at the other side for receiving another shelter. c

Figure 4 shows inside elevation on a shelterframework according to another embodi ment applied to a coupe or single door closed body type of automobile.

Figure 5' is a rear View ofFigure 4:. Figure 6 is a perspective View of a cantilever member of the shelter framework.

Figure 7 shows a cross bar for co-operating withtwo cantilever members. i I

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of the canvasorlike shelter showing a curtain or screen which may be provided to separate the interior of the shelter from the interior of the automobile. Figure 9 is a side elevation of an open? body type of automobile witha shelter framework applied thereto according to the invention.

Figure 10 is an end view of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a plan of the framework seen in Figure 10.

Figure 12 illustrates a socket clamp which may be applied to an automobile to receive the inner ends of the cantilever members of the shelter framework.

For convenience of description reference will now be made to an application of the invention to an automobile ofthetsedan or closed body type having two doors 2 at each side arranged to swing opensidewardly in opposite directions to each other. In such case the supporting frame for the shelter includes two cantilever members 3 each of which is adapted at its inner end to be mounted upon the top of one of the vehicle doors when swung open into a position approximately at right angles to the length of the vehicle body. For this purpose each of the cantilever members is provided at and adjacent its inner end with depending legs 1 which are adapted to fit detachably within holes or sockets in the top edge of the respective door frame. Holes. may be bored or drilled in the proper positions, but it will usually be found that in most makes of automobiles it'is possible to remove a pair of existing screws fromthe top edge of each door without detriment to the frame, window or other parts, and to utilize such vacant screw holes as sockets for the reception of tne do pending legs 4 of the cantilever members.

The outer end portions of the cantilever members are adapted to detachably receive the opposite ends of a cross bar 6 which may if desired be of a' telescopic or'adjustable nature and is preferably not applied. to the cantilever rods until. the canvas or fabric shelter has been placed over the cantilever members. If desired, another cross bar 60 mav be adapted to extend between the inner portions of the cantilevers to increase stability of the framework. 7

The canvas or like covering forms the two sides 7 the front Send the roofor top 90f the shelter and is made to fit over the skeleton framework with reasonable snugness. The, sides 7 of the canvas or like covering extend at the outer sides of the doors 2 ofthe car.

After the cantilever members, and the inner cross bar Set if provided, havebeen correctly positioned and after the canvas or like covering has been placedthereover, the top portion of the shelter or atransversely extending flap 11 may be detachably retained to the roof of the vehicle meansof suitable retainers. For instance, a seriesof snap fasteners may be provided to retain thetop of the shelter to the vehicle roof, the eyelets of the fasteners being secured to thereof portion of the shelter and the co-acting pins .12

being applied to the vehicle roof at appropriate posltions. If desired the retainers may consist of rubber gripping pads secured to the flap 11 and adapted to be pressed onto the roof of the vehicle to establish a tight but detachable grip. Such pads will avoid the necessity for any pins or other fittings on the vehicle roof.

The cross bar 6 will usually be applied to the cantilever members after the said retain ers nave been adjusted.

A suitable fiy 13 may be provided at the front or at either of the-sides ofthe shelter. The bottom edges of the shelter may be providedjwith loops or rings let receiving pegs 16 whereby the shelter may be held to the groundif-so desired or necessary. It will be appreciated that such pegging means offer no obstruction to movement of persons in or around the shelter.

A frame and shelter may be attached to each side of the vehicle, and to exclude the interior of'the vehicle from the shelters, each ofthe latter may be provided with a curtain or screen 17' (Figures and'S) which may be rolled up when not required;

Provided the pegs 16. are not driven into the ground the vehicle with either or both" of the frames and shelters applied thereto may be moved or'driven about a camping site as may be "desirable for various reasons, such as to take advantage of-sunshine or'shade, to avoid wind or rain, etc.

In order to dismantle the shelter it is merely necessary to remove the cross bar-6 from the cantilever members'then release the snap fasteners or other retainers usedforretaining the shelter top to the car roof, whereupon the canvas or like shelter may be removed from the cantilever'members and the latter readily liftedfrom the doors. The cantilever members and the crossbar or bars may then be rolled up in the fabric-or like shelter ready for transport orstorage.

The preferred construction of the cantilever members and cross bar is best seenvin Figures 6 and 7 According thereto each cantilever member is in two sections 3a, 3b, the inner section terminating at its inner end in a depending leg and at its outer end in a ferrule 18 for receiving the inner end of the outer section 35 which also has a depending leg 4. Both sections may nave bosses 19 provided with holes or recesses 21 which maybe cone shaped to receive the respective endsof the inner and outer cross bars; 7

Each cross bar may be in two sections one of which terminates at one end in a ferrule 22 to receive an end of the other section. The outer ends of each cross bar section may be tapered. The application of the crossbar or bars to the cantilever members preferably tends to exert a slight'sideward thrust upon the cantilever members which prevents accidental'disconnection of the cross bars and ensures'stablhty of the framework.

The cantilever members preferably slope downwards and outwards so that thetop of i the shelter is suitably inclined to afford a run off for rain.

In applying the invention to a closed body car having only one door at each side, such for instance as a cou or coach or to a,

modified cantilever member 30 having a single leg 4t at its inner end with an olfset portion 4aadapted to fit into a hole formed in the car roof, or into a socket member 24: applied to the roof as in Figure 5. If desired the cantilever member 30 may be braced by a detachable strut 26, intermediately jointed or articulated, extending between the cantilever member and a socket member 27 mounted on the running board or other suitable part of the car. Cross bars 6, 6a are shown applied to the cantilever members 8, 80, to complete the frame over which a fabric or like shelter may be placed as before-mentioned.

For use in connection with open body cars, the skeleton frame may comprise one or a pair of cantilever members 3d similar to those before referred to but having longer legs 403 to fit into holes in the top (or tops) of the door (or doors) 2. The legs id may be separable from the outstanding portion of the cantilever member and connected thereto by a T piece 31 and an elbow 32. Such cantilever members may be braced by a strut 26 as previously mentioned.

If it is not possible or advisable to utilize two doors for supporting the framework only one of the cantilever members 30Zneed be employed, and another cantilever member 36, similar to that indicated by 30 in Figures 4: and 5, provided for the other side support of the shelter. The leg ie of this cantilever member 36 may be entered into a hole or socket member on the side frame of the hood similarly as in Figures 4 and 5, or it may be adapted for detachable application to the usual hood supporting bracket 33 projecting sidewardly of the vehicle body near its rear. The last mentioned cantilever may be braced by a bar 34 extending between it and the inner cross bar 6a.

In instances where it is impracticable or inadvisable for the legs of the cantilevers to be inserted in holes in the vehicle doors and where it is undesirable to permanently mount sockets or the like on the vehicle roof or hood, socket clamps as illustrated in Figure 12 may be employed. These clamps may be detachably held to the roof, hood or doors of avehicle by the screw 37 and jaw 38 so that the socket hole 89 is correctly disposed to receive the inner leg of the respective cantilever member.

Having now described my invention what I elaimas newTand ,desireto ters Patent is 1 l=..A framefor supporting atent to be.

used in connection with an automobile, said frame consisting of a cantilever structure adapted to pro ect sidewardly' above the door at a side of the vehicle, the door having sockets, whereby when the door is swung open to a, right angled position, the inner end of the cantilever structure maybe detachably attached to saiddoor; c

secure by Let 2. A frame for supporting a tent to be used in connection with anautomobile; comprising two cantilever members forming the side of the frame, means at the inner end of at least one of said cantilever members for detaehably connecting it to anopen door of the automobile,means for detachably connecting the inner end ofthe other cantilever member to the vehicle, and a member eXtending between the outer ends of the'cantileyer members to maintaln them 1n spaced relationship. I

3. Aframe for supporting a tent to be i used in connection with an automobile having a door; comprising two cantilever members forming the sides of the frame, each member having at itsinner end a depending I leg for detachable connection to an automobile so that the members project sidewardlyf therefrom, the upper part of said door h'aving a socket associated therewith, said socket adapted, whensaid dooris open to receive said dependingleg members. i

4. A frame forsupporting a tent to be used inco'nnectionwit-h an automobile, hav inga door comprising two cantilever; mem bers, forming the {sides 0fthe frame, each member having a depending leg at its inner end, one at least of said members having a second; depending leg spaced outwardly from theflfirstmention'ed leg, the upperpart.

of one of thecantilever I of saidfdoor having'socketsassociated there with so that whensaid door is open the two depending legs of one cantilever member may fitremovablydnsaid sockets, means-for detachably connecting the depending leg of the other cantilever member to the vehicle, and means extending transversely between said cantilever members-for maintaining them in ,spaced relationship. 5. A frame as claimed in claim 4, wherein 4 nsosgzsv:

and outwardly therefrom and is provided at its outer end with means for detachably: con necting" it tosaid single legged cantilever member.- I V V 7; A'frame-for 'supporting'a tent to beused in connection with an automobile, comprising: two cantilever members forming the sides of the frame,each-member being formed of-inner and outer longitudinal sections adapted- 10'; for detachable interconnection, the inner section of each member terminating atits inner end in a depending leg for detachableconnection to an automobile, and cross bars adapted to e-Xtend transversely between the inner and V 153 the outer'sections of said cantilever'members.

8'. A" frame as claimed in claim 7 wherein the outer section of at least one'of said can tile'ver members has a depending leg: adapted to fit intoa' socket formed in or on the upper 2'0 part of an' o'pe'n door of the vehicle.

91 A -frame for a tent to be used in-connection with an automobile, comprising a door of the vehicle, having sockets associated therewith, a cantilever structure of interconnected rods-adapted for detachableconnection to the -veh'ic'le so as to'pro-ject sidewardlyabove the" door, one member at least of said cantilever structure having depending legs adapted to' fit into said sockets when the door 10. A 'frame for a tent'to'be used in 'connec-- tio'n'witli an automobile having twodoors-at on'eside capable 'of'opening in opposite directions; comprising said doors, having sock-- ets associated therewith on each of said doors, a cantilever structureof interconnected rods adapted to project" sidewardly above said doors, said cantilever-structure including two side memb'erseach of which is provided with 40 depending legs adapted to fit'intosaidsoc'k- 'ets' whensaid doors are open, I

v 11. A frame for supporting' a tent tobe used" in connection with an automobile, comprising t'wo cantilever members formingthe sides'of the frame, each cantilever member comprising twosections, one such section hav ing a socket in'towhich the other-section fits, the inner ends ofthe members having-downwardly extending legs adapted'to intercomnect withan' automobile, and sectional-cross bars extendingtransversely between the can tilever members and having their ends fitting in recessesformed in the cantilever-members to thereby maintain the; latter in spaced re'-' 7 lation.'-

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature;

0. EDNOTT (BROOKE. 

